In Sweden, Two Matching Homes Nest Under One Black Gable Roof

Architect couple Andreas Lyckefors and Josefine Wikholm took an unusual approach to designing their dream home. While living in a small apartment with three young children, they bought a site in Askim, a popular suburb close to Gothenburg, where they designed a pair of mirrored residences under a single gable roof.

Living in one of the units and selling the other allowed them to finance the entire project. But with this kind of plan, it was important to consider the needs of their future neighbors. What would add value, and what expenses were worth skipping?

"What became important was for light to enter the house from as many different angles as possible," explains Andreas, one half of Swedish firm Bornstein Lyckefors. "It was also important to create outdoor spaces where you could find a place in the sun at any time of day."

In each home, three levels are connected by a dramatic stair at the rear of the plan, where windows bring in light all the way to the ground floor. "We just love the staircase," says Andreas. "It gives you different views of the house and garden, and at night it’s like a gigantic lighting fixture, filling the whole house with warm, glowing light."

On the ground floor in the living area, more windows overlooking the garden invite light and greenery inside. Two bedrooms and utilities—including a laundry and large bathroom with a sauna—are located around the living area.

On the second level are two bedrooms and a bathroom, and a living and dining area that opens into the kitchen. The living area extends outside with attached balconies, and decks at the rear of the home provide additional outdoor access and a view over the garden. The third level houses a home office, a library and creative studio, and a guest bedroom and bathroom.

"We wanted all floors to feel like the main floor in terms of light and access to the garden," says Andreas. "Another major aspect was to design a house where our family could grow. The kids are small now, but teenagers normally fancy a different layout when it comes to parent proximity!" When the kids get a bit older, the third level could be used as an independent unit, for example, if one of the kids needed their own space.

Throughout, the interiors are lined with ash timber, including the ground floor walls and ceiling, the staircase, the kitchen, and the flooring. In contrast, the home’s timber shell, which was prefabricated, has been treated with tar to create a dark facade with a dramatic presence against the surrounding greenery. In winter months, snow settles in the diagonal and vertical ribs, emphasizing the patterned facade.

Related Reading:

Späckhuggaren by Bornstein Lyckefors

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Bornstein Lyckefors Arkitekter / @bornsteinlyckefors

Builder: BoArt Svenska designhem

Photographer: Kalle Sanner